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McDermott: Eyes upset

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Liverpool will try and overcome struggling Reading at the second time of asking in their FA Cup third round replay at Anfield on Wednesday.

The two sides drew 1-1 at the Madejski Stadium 11 days ago with the hosts putting up a spirited fight that defied their current position in the Championship.

The Royals lie 21st in the table, just two points from danger, and without a manager following the sacking of Brendan Rodgers before Christmas.

However caretaker boss Brian McDermott managed to lift his troops considerably for the visit of the Reds, made all the more difficult as the tie came just days after the club had been well beaten by relegation rivals Plymouth 4-1, and he will be looking to do the same for the trip to Merseyside.

Meanwhile Liverpool will see the Cup as a way of obtaining a certain degree of success from a season that has gone drastically off course.

With their title aspirations seemingly over, although neither of the top three seem capable of stringing a run of results together at present, and their UEFA Champions League dreams shattered after elimination in the group stages manager Rafa Benitez will be looking to lift spirits with a good cup run.

Both clubs should be fresh with neither playing a game since the first encounter at the start of the month due to the adverse weather.

Both teams go into the match knowing the winner will host Burnley in round four.

Red news

With a tough Premier League game against Stoke awaiting them on Saturday it remains to be seen whether Benitez will field a strong side for the cup clash although the Spaniard has called for his squad to approach the game with the 'right attitude'.

Defender Glen Johnson remains sidelined with a knee injury and will not be back in action until March although the England international is thought to be making good progress and could be back a month early.

Argentine midfielder Javier Mascherano is also missing with a knee complaint but could be fit to face the Potters at the weekend after missing the last three games.

Royals news

McDermott has vowed that his side will not sit back at Anfield and having started bullishly in the draw at the Madejski the caretaker boss will be looking for more of the same at Anfield.

The Royals have no new injuries to report with goalkeeper Adam Federici declared fit to play despite being forced off in the first game midway through the second half.

Jay Tabb was an unused substitute against the Reds last time out after only just recovering from a calf strain but he could start on Wednesday.

The club confirmed the signings of striker Gunnar Thorvaldsson and defender Andy Griffin, on loan, earlier this week but both are ineligible for the clash having not been registered before the first game took place.